WHATEVER allegations of assault on Nigerians by a few overzealous or misguided policemen in Equatorial Guinea are rare and not systemic, the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Job Obiong Esoso Mbangono, has told The Guardian in Abuja.

Two Nigerians had made allegations of assault against the Equatorial Guinean police in Bata, one of the major towns in the country.

One of the victims, Noah Ichaba, is an Administrative Attache at the Consulate-General’s Office in Bata while the other, Godwin Uzuogu, is a trader in hairdressing materials in Bata.

In the report made available to The Guardian in May, Ichaba had alleged that he was manhandled and nearly killed by a policeman who refused to acknowledge his documents and permits until he was rescued by the Consular-General.

Also in December, another Nigerian, a trader, Uzuogu, was allegedly assaulted by three policemen in Bata.

Uzuogu, who had lived in the country for 20 years, alleged that the policemen had entered his business premises and demanded money, which he did not have, following which they attacked and began to beat him.

While calling on authorities in Nigeria, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to act on the matter, an e-mail sent to The Guardian from the Consulate in Bata with Uzuogu’s photograph after the beating, narrated what some other Nigerians are facing in the country.

“The three policemen who have been notorious in harassing, intimidating and extorting money from foreigners, in particular, black Africans in Bata, entered Godwin’s shop and demanded from him the sum of CFA50,000 or about $85.

“He told them he could not afford that money that period and demanded to know the basis and rationale for the demand.

“He told them he neither knew them nor did he owe them since there had been no transaction between them.

“On hearing his response, the policemen went wild and furious, questioning his temerity to refuse their demand and challenge them in their country. But as Uzuogu insisted that he had no money to give, the policemen pounced on him and beat him to a coma.

It was gathered that while Uzuogu lay on the floor with blood gushing from his head, the policemen continued hitting him until a police patrol team arrived the scene and rescued him.

“The Nigerian, who at the point of the rescue was vomiting blood, was then rushed to the hospital by the police patrol team that intervened. While the Nigerian was treated and discharged the same day to subsequently be visiting the hospital daily from his residence, the policemen were arrested and taken to the Central Police Station in Bata where they are currently being detained”.

“It is important to note that the police authorities in Bata have commenced investigation into the incident with a view to ascertaining the fact to determine the appropriate sanctions to be meted on them if found guilty”, the e-mail sent to The Guardian stressed.

However, Mbangono confirmed that authorities in his country are currently investigating the incidents, adding that they should not be viewed as indications of phobia or hatred for Nigerians.

According to him, “Nigerians have lived in his country for about five decades and have been well behaved, “so they cannot be hated by a country that needs them to improve its trade.”

He also assured that the embassy is aware of the case involving Noah Ichaba, and had begun investigations into the matter, as well as with Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, adding that Uzuogu’s case was new and was being looked into as well.

He noted that such incidents are not systemic, as Equatoguineans do not have any hatred against Nigerians or any other African country.